A Most Unusual Creature|最罕见的生物

by Brian Foden

In both appearance and behavior, the platypus is a unique and fascinating animal that looks like it's a combination of several other creatures.

　　Imagine mixing a duck, a beaver, and an otter together. What would that creature look like? Actually, you really don't need much of an imagination to picture that strange animal at all. All you have to do is _(1)_ a photograph of a platypus. With a rubbery bill that is reminiscent _(2)_ a duck's, a flat tail like a beaver's, and a furry body similar to an otter's, the platypus is truly unique. When speaking about platypuses, people sometimes jokingly say they are _(3)_ that God has a sense of humor.

　　Platypuses' distinctiveness extends beyond their _(4)_ characteristics. Unique to eastern Australia, it is one of only a handful of mammals that lay eggs. The animal's way of finding food is also unusual. Without _(5)_ the usual methods of hunting prey such as sight, smell, and sound, a platypus uses an intriguing ability known as electrolocation. Receptors in its bill give the platypus the ability to detect tiny electrical currents that occur when other animals move their muscles. This allows them to _(6)_ between live creatures and objects such as rocks easily. In order to find their prey, platypuses put their bills into the bottoms of rivers or streams to dig up insects, shellfish, and worms. Since platypuses don't have teeth, they also pick up gravel to help them mush their food. Even though they look goofy and harmless, male platypuses are venomous. This means they have stingers on their feet and can deliver toxic blows to their foes. With all these unique _(7)_, it's no wonder that platypuses are considered one of the strangest creatures on Earth.

1. (A) find (B) found (C) finding (D) have found

2. (A) for (B) with (C) of (D) to

3. (A) boredom (B) colony (C) fluency (D) proof

4. (A) vertical (B) physical (C) parallel (D) upcoming

5. (A) tempting (B) betraying (C) conceding (D) employing

6. (A) distinguish (B) nominate (C) prohibit (D) recruit

7. (A) opponents (B) disciples (C) attributes (D) celebrities

 

最罕见的生物

不论是外表还是行为，鸭嘴兽都是一种独特且迷人的动物，牠看起来很像其他几种生物的综合体。

　　想象一下把鸭子、海狸和水獭混合在一起。这种生物长得会是什么样子呢？事实上，你根本不需要花很多想象力去想象这种奇怪的生物。你所要做的就是找一张鸭嘴兽的照片。鸭嘴兽有着橡胶似的喙，让人联想到鸭子；扁平的尾巴很像海狸的尾巴；而毛茸茸的身体和水獭很相似，鸭嘴兽真的很独特。当说到鸭嘴兽时，人们有时候会开玩笑地说牠们证明了上帝很有幽默感。

　　鸭嘴兽特别的还不只是牠们身体上的特色。牠是澳洲东部特有的生物，也是少数会下蛋的哺乳类动物。这种动物觅食的方法也很奇特。鸭嘴兽并不使用常见的猎食方法，象是用看的、闻的以及听的，而是使用一种以放电定位而为人所知的有趣方法。牠的喙上面的接收器让鸭嘴兽能够侦测到其他动物移动肌肉时所发出的微小电流。这让牠们可以很容易地区别有生命的生物和岩石等物体。为了找寻猎物，鸭嘴兽会把嘴伸到河流或溪流底部，去挖出昆虫、贝类以及小虫。由于鸭嘴兽没有牙齿，牠们有时也会捡碎石来帮助碾碎食物。虽然鸭嘴兽看起来傻傻的又没有伤害，但雄的鸭嘴兽是有毒的。这意味着牠们的脚上有刺，可以对牠们的敌人传送毒液。有了这所有独特的性质，难怪鸭嘴兽会被视为地球上最奇怪的生物之一。

 

答案： 1. A 2. C 3. D 4. B 5. D

6. A 7. C